I
always approach a Luka Bloom show with incredible anticipation and a
knowledge that I will come away with a different and powerful experience
each time and this show was certainly no different. Since his initial
recreating of himself with his re-naming upon reaching the shores of
America , he has continued to re-mold himself in different musical veins,
whether it be powerful guitar styles, celebrations of nature, or the
interpretation of the songs of others in a new way. He has now found
a sense of calm in the midst of this storm of genius, that brought us
the beautiful “Before Sleep Comes” which has borne a whole slew of
new songs that he trotted out to share with us.

I had the opportunity to interview him on the phone
shortly before the show and he gave some great insights into the new
songs, his new style of playing and what lies on the road ahead. The
interview will be available in streaming audio soon here on the site.
Click HERE to listen now on RealAudio

The man came onstage in a tailored
suit, cutting quite a dashing figure compared to the floral shirts
and biking shorts of the past, and set about the task of introducing
the audience to the cadre of new songs starting off with Innocence and First
LIght of Spring both fluid and gentle, and telling of the
newfound sense of awareness that he has found in his life, surroundings
and his music.

He continued on with the vibrantly Middle Eastern flavored Gypsy
Music giving glimpses into the places that he has traveled,
or wishes to go to, much in the same vein as Perfect Groove from
the Between the Mountain and the Moon album, telling
tales of the sharing of his music and the vibes of the people who come
out to hear it. Very fitting for a setting such as a New York club,
where so many folks have been following his music for so long, and
vicariously going on his travels along with him.

The
evening rolled along with a number of brilliant new songs, showcasing
his nimble picking style, which has often been swallowed up in the
voluminous guitar sound for which he is known, and included a tribute
to his ladylove in Salvador and a fabulous
group of new friends in Summer and Friends, one
that I'm sure we can all share in, just entering into the great season
of shared experiences at the beach or in the mountains, basking in
the summer sun and the congregation of great people.

Probably the most touching song of the evening was Thank
You For Bringing Me Here, a beautiful ballad inspired by a walk taken
by a father and daughter along the Burren coastline, and her gratitude
to her father for showing her the beautiful things in life, and the double
entendre of the simple gratitude we all feel for our creation.

As the evening progressed, he did trot out crowd favorites including Sunny
Sailor Boy, Love is a Place I Dream Of, and the rarely performed City
of Chicago which most people know from the
rendition by Christy Moore, rather than by Luka who actually wrote
it.

The highpoint of the evening came with a true sean nos rendition of Caoineadh
Na Dtrí Mhuire which translates as The Crying
of the Three Marys an achingly beautiful song, as only sean
nos can be, telling the story of Mary weeping at the base of the cross.
This is the first time that I have heard him sing in Irish and a full
sean nos song and he does an amazing job. The strength of his voice
is greater than I have ever heard it before and the emotion of the
song grows as the story wends its way through the grief of Mary which
hung palpably in the air as he sang. Here's hoping that this will find
its way onto his new album and become a must for future shows!

Alyanya,
the wonderful young Dublin singer/songwriter who is opening for him
on this tour, joined him for an encore of her song Arise and
his Love is a Place I Dream of For those waiting
for a glimpse of the rowdier and more robust Luka tunes, he didn't
disappoint with a forcefully funky Bogman.

Rounding the evening to a close, he sent everyone off into the sultry
New York night with a warm and soulful cup of Chamomile ,
filling everyone to the brim with relaxing and soothing thoughts to take
with them on their way. Having made many jokes during the evening about
the coming of age that the writing of these songs has been for him, it
was definitely clear that he has made great strides down a new path on
the journey of his career, and it's one that I'm certain Luka fans and
newcomers alike will enjoy rambling down as well. Look for a new album
to come soon, and another trip to these shores in the Fall. You can keep
up with his movements at www.lukabloom.com